History

Two decades of student robotics at Western.

Founded in 2005, WE Bots has evolved through autonomous vehicles, robot battles, humanoid research, and the current Project JOSH launch.

2019-2026

Project TITAN

TITAN was WE Bots' first humanoid robot design: an ambitious, six-foot-tall platform that challenged generations of members to work across mechanical design, electronics, controls, manufacturing, and full-system integration.

TITAN is the project that Project JOSH began as. After being showcased at the Alchemy showcase and the 2026 Canadian Tech Summit, TITAN was officially retired and relaunched/rebranded under a new name: Project JOSH.

TITAN prototype leg components displayed at the 2026 Canadian Tech Summit — Prototype leg at CTS 2026

TITAN prototype joints and display board at the 2026 Canadian Tech Summit — Prototype joints showcase

TITAN ankle prototype assembly — Ankle prototype

TITAN gearbox prototype with purple 3D printed ring — Gearbox prototype

TITAN hand prototype with blue 3D printed fingers — Hand prototype

2005-2019

Project CAR

Project CAR was WE Bots' autonomous racing platform. The team designed, built, and competed with vehicles that had to navigate courses independently while balancing speed, reliability, sensing, and mechanical design.

Notable results

UWaterloo Autonomous Racing Challenge

2006
3rd place overall
2007
1st place overall
2008
2nd overall / 1st in Design / 3rd in Drag Race / 2nd in Circuit Race

International Autonomous Robot Racing Challenge IARRC

2014
3rd in Circuit Race / 3rd overall
2015
3rd overall
2016
2nd in Design / 2nd in Circuit Race / 3rd overall
2018
12th overall

WE Bots 2014 IARRC third place trophy and certificate — 2014 IARRC third place circuit race

Project CAR with 2015 IARRC third place overall trophy and certificate — 2015 IARRC third overall

WE Bots team at the 2015 International Autonomous Robot Racing Challenge — WE Bots at IARRC 2015

WE Bots team at the 2016 International Autonomous Robot Racing Competition — WE Bots at IARRC 2016

Project CAR autonomous racing platform chassis — Project CAR platform

Other Projects & Events

Robotics beyond the flagship builds

Across its history, WE Bots has taken part in robot battles, walking robot competitions, technical workshops, demonstrations, outreach events, and smaller experimental builds.

These projects gave members faster ways to learn fabrication, electronics, programming, controls, and teamwork while keeping robotics visible and approachable within Western Engineering.

Collection of WE Bots walking robots from 2012 — Walking robot builds

WE Bots walking robot competition in 2012 — Walking robot competition

Early construction of a wooden walking robot — Early walking robot construction

Next Chapter

Project JOSH carries the legacy forward.

Support the rebuild, help document the archive, or join the next generation of student robotics at Western.

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